Online Rumor 'Kills' New N Korean Dictator

Kim Jong-un took over leadership of the reclusive state after the death of his father Kim Jong-il at the end of December last year. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A unconfirmed rumor that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been assassinated in China has spread across social networks all over the world Friday into Saturday.

According to BBC, the story apparently originated on Chinese microblog site Sina Weibo and was later picked up by Twitter users.

The reports were also carried on at least two fake BBC Twitter accounts, which have since been closed.

Analysts say the story, claiming he was killed by gunmen at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, is highly implausible. Many of the tweets are also skeptical.

Kim Jong-un took over leadership of the reclusive state after the death of his father Kim Jong-il at the end of December last year.

By Friday night, Sina Weibo had more than 380 000 posts referencing the rumor, which became a trending topic on Twitter.

No officials have commented on the rumor, and no reliable sources have given it any credence.

Rumors of deaths of celebrities and world leaders commonly spread on social-media sites like Twitter, the latest being those of Hollywood stars Jackie Chan and Charlie Sheen.

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